Santa Anita for Sunday 27 January 2019
Decent card to finish the week. Let's call it a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale of things.
Best of luck as always!
race 1Â Â average clarity
5 Mongolian Window  stumbled at the start and then send hard by Van Dyke to the lead......predictably tired late in the 1 1/8th turf alw race........today's one mile seems like a better fit especially with the cut back in distance.......should be in the mix from the get go once again
6 Tig Tog  wide trip in latest at 9F on the turf and still put in a good stretch run and a strong gallop out.......she has been very reliable both in GB & the US racing off of 5 weeks or less rest.......4 weeks rest today.......Prat stays put......should go off a price
8 Super Patriot  not much in her latest at 9F but she seems best at today's one mile turf distance.......her winning one mile race two back was very strong breaking a little tardy and then running wide......and take note that she is in an every other win mode and is on the right end of the pendulum today
4Â Madaket Sunset
2Â Mirth
race 2Â Â average clarity
1 Baby Ice  claim back by Knapp won his last for the trainer and that makes in 3 straight for the mare at SA when Knapp has been the trainer......and I sure like the significant step up in class as it strongly suggests his mare exited her latest or good shape
6 Powder  trainer Vallejo is 27% win with last 33 1st after a claim and might get another win here with this mare who not only has run well at the 5 1/2F distance but is usually on the lead or near it at the 5 1/2F mark in 6 or 6 1/2F races.......should get a nice mid pace or stalk position
5 Tizanillusion  very strong effort on the main track for the first time in start 21 in a race taken off the turf.......question seems to be was it the muddy track or did she like dirt in general......tough call
race 3Â Â above average clarity
5 Mucho Unusual  all three lifetime races are solid for today's alw level and her latest is disguised by a wide trip up on a solid pace.....she did well to hang on for 2nd in a 200K Stakes
6 Tiz A Master  improving by leaps and bounds with each start and if that trend continues today there isn't any reason she can't have a shot at the top prize here
3 Hotitude  three-year old filly who lost to our top selection two races back at 7F has a shot to turn the tables as it appears as if 6 1/2F will be a better fit......and......her staying power should be enhanced coming off of a route race
race 4Â Â average clarity
3 Blackout  six-year-old is on a rebound of sorts since Miller took over the training 3 races back.......that and the only time this gelding ran down the hill he won for fun albeit vs. softer foes.....but he appears sharper now so he should fit well back at a racing configuration that he handled impressively
4 Arms Runner  double barrel action for Miller in this affair as he also trains our top selection.......and whereas other trainers that enter two in a race have only one that is live (sure miss the 1 & 1A set up to keep the B.S. at bay) Mr Miller quite often goes one/two at the wire........gelding is 2 for 3 down the hill
1 Little Juanito  gelding seems at his best with ample time between starts and gets it today.......race down the hill 2 back fits decently here......low % turf rider but he does ride this Victor Garcia five-year old quite well
race 5Â Â average clarity
5 Nice Work  solid 1st on the dirt in his 2nd lifetime start and the strength of the race is disguised......he set a very fast quarter and to did a little two close to a slightly dull rail and rightfully tired late......rail was fine yesterday......good post.......gate to wire attempt and at only 5 1/2F
1 Drink  beat our top selection in 10 Jan version of this race but had a better trip......has one furlong less to work with to wheel him in again......still it might come down to who moves forward (or backward) the most
2 Craig's  trainer is only 1 for his last 12 with MC 1st timers but the works hint this fellow might be ready to roll in his debut........decent daddy and mom has tossed 4 winners from 4 starters and two Stakes winners.......impressive
race 6Â Â average clarity
11 Take a Leap  not the easiest of posts but T C Baze looked good winning on this Mullins filly 3 back and is rather good at getting near the wood by turn one with bad posts........filly drops level wise but she also catches a soft looking 25Kn2 group
3 Chatty  very sharp recent works for this (I'm on cloud nine trainer) Michael McCarthy filly.........race lacks speed and this filly has some........1st at a route but bred OK to handle one.........Iggy Puglisi should be on or near the lead which is just where you want a seldom used rider.......come on Iggy
2 Kitty Boo  away since May but trains as if Cassidy has his mare ready fresh off of the bench.......her two USA races both fit at today's level.....trainer seems due
4Â Bunny Yogurt
5Â Atina
race 7Â Â average clarity
7 Honeymoonz Over  seems like a good claim by Papaprodromou of and improving four-year old who deserves today's step up......and he draws the attention of Prat who won his only mount for the trainer over a period of 3 months........such a deal
4 Don't Stalk Me  also seems like a good claim and for a trainer his is 25% win first after a claim with his last 150.......trainer is rather hot right now and I like that Rosario rides thru to claim
5 J T's A. T. M.  won the 29 December version of this race shipping in from GG......went back to GG to train and heads back down to L.A......you don't do all of that to give a horse a race
1Â Big Shanty
race 8Â Â average clarity
5 Hunt  D'Amato had been rather chilly to start the meeting but "boom" he won 4 races yesterday........his gelding is 4 for 6 on the hill and the other two were able to hit the board.......away since August but a.m. work hints this is not a gimme.......Prat knows well having been uo for the last 8 starts
7 Conquest Tsunami  seven-year old can really fly early but he was forced into an unsustainable pace by our 3rd selection in his last race down the hill where he is (6 2 2 2).......believe he can kick free from the 2 horse this time around making him dangerous
2 Cistron  five-year old shows signs that he is capable of sitting back off of a the pace and that seems wise here as it appears to be suicidal to press our second choice like he did in his latest
8Â Blended Citizen
4Â Secretary At War
race 9Â Â average clarity
7 Todos Santos  placed way over her head in latest in a protected race......back where she belongs today for a full-blown go.......see same maneuver 3 back and 6 back where she ran 1st and 2nd and earned strong numbers......hmmmm
4 Duranga  last race fits solidly for this mare.......2nd time Miller as the trainer.......cut back of 1/2 furlong seems like a plus as does the drop of one level.....rather sure she puts in a strong race again
10 Brookes All Mine  trainer is 24% win with his last 59 racing a given horse AW to conventional dirt..........and the last time he made such a maneuver he won......AW race at GG in last.......on the SA dirt today.......N Cal trainer gets Rosario ride......that seems significant
2Â Lucky Student
9Â Conquest Flatter
race 10Â Â average clarity
6 Paddock Pick  appreciates the unusual configuration of the hill and he retains the suddenly red-hot Tiago Pereira who of late is giving some beautiful confident looking rides........gelding just worked as though he his up for a top effort......hard not to like
9 Shadow Sphinx  2 for 2 with Prat up which includes his last which was his 1st ever on the hill......gelding is likely up for same or more today ........and Prat and his agent likely had their choice of a few talented others in this race
3 Mesut  very strong hill effort in latest getting beat by less than 2L despite a bad trip.......gelding does tend to find trouble or would have been top choice........lookout if his new jock handles him better
1Â What'sontheagenda
10Â North Count Guy